Dutch firm Sonneveld, which produces bread improvers, mixes and release agents, is to become part of Orkla Food Ingredients (OFI) in Norway.

Oslo-based firm OFI, which offers a range of bakery ingre-dients, has acquired the shares in Sonneveld Group BV, based in Papendrecht, the Netherlands, including all its subsidiaries.

Peter Egginton, sales manager UK, told British Baker the take-over would not affect operations in the UK in terms of the workforce which currently comprises himself and technical sales manager UK/Ireland Martin Churchill.

"Initially, Orkla will run the business as an independent within the group, so there won't be a name change," said Egginton. "Everything's still in the early stages, but the plan is that, going forward, Sonneveld will be able to access the entire range of Orkla products, from marzipan to margarines and cake mixes. On the products side, our strength is in bread, bread improvers and release agents and oils, whereas Orkla's strengths lie more in confectio-nery marzipan for example."

Egginton added that Orkla did not have any representation in the UK, or a strong representation in Western Europe at present "which is why the two businesses are a geographical fit".

Sonneveld Group MD Cees Hack said the new ownership would present new opportunities, "in particular in the patisserie sector".

OFI has subsidiaries in 17 Euro-pean countries and forms part of the Orkla Group one of the largest listed firms in Norway with a turnover of 7bn (£6.1bn).

The takeover is subject to approval by the Dutch Com-petition Authority.